Switching socket or connector.



G. C. KNgAUFF. SWITCHING SOCKET OB. CONNECTOR. APPLLQATION rrLnn Dnc. 12. 191s.

1,1 1 9,832, Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

GEORGE C. KNAUFR OI? CHICAGO, XLLINQS.

SYITCLH'IH S-QCKET OE CONNECTOR.

Speefiention of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. s, 191e. f

ppncatinn ma member 12. una. seria; no. eos-.240.

To all whom, it mayc'ovcern:

Be it known that I, Gremios' C. lim-infr, citizen.- of the United States, residing at Chic-ago, in the count-y of Cook and State ..5 of llinois, have invented certain new and useful-. l'rftprovements in Switching Sockets uieinetorg and l do hereby declare the fo'llou-'inf'f 'to be a full, clear, and exact (lescriptidn of the invention, suoli as ivill" enable others skilled in the artto which it nppertains to. malte anduse the sinne. A My invention relates to electric sockets und connectors and more --partioulnrly to the class of such devices equipped 'ith a metal casing' grounded 'to one termin-.il of tu: circuit. and having the circuit closed tirough relatively contacting portions Cerr'id respectively b v the socket and 'plug .ih iu'o'er of the appli-ance. In my copend ing-.npplication of even (late. 4herewith Se rial No. 906,239, l have shown and described afsoclre't or connector of this Class .equipped "liith is rotatable plug, which lplug either Vcloses "or opensthe circuit aoeording to the position in which itf'is 'coupled-to the easing. In the. construction thus described. both the contact-ing and the pressure transmission be 'tween the soo-liet and plug members :ire effected :it a. point considernblyto one side 3Q f the common axis of' the socket and the, plug, thereby trndingtooramp the plug' and possibly .interfering with the easyY rotation of the plug between its normal coupled positions. Moreover, the. construction shown in the said (fo-pending application requires a diameter which may be objet:` tionzzble where the npplinnceis to be used in limited spaces, or u'here itisdesirable to reduce the oost. of construction by manu- 40 fneturing the insulating parts out. of rubber rods ofsmnller diameter..

The prime object of my present invention is to provide a construction in which the. eurient-carrying members of both the socket.

und the plug are axially disiosed. thereby permitting them to be mounted within in sulating bodies of relatively small diameter; to provide means for efefting; a double row tact between the saideondurting members of the socket and the plug, und for insuring an effective Contact therebetween: and to provide a single springr .member so disposed as simultaneously to effect the seid contacting and toinsurethe secure coupling of the 'plug to-the socket when in either its cire "it closing oneirouit-opening positions'.

l Another object is to provide simple means tor preventing a relative rot-ation of the' Cont-acting portions or the pl ug and' socken Further objeots vill appear fromthe fol- Qrilovring description and 'from the accompany-l ingdrau'ings in which: g Figure -1- is n vieu' partly in longtudinalseetion, of a lamp., soket :mdplug-- combination embodying my invention. Fig-.+05 is a transverse section through Fig.,- --l-- along the. line 2--2. Fig. 431- isa fragmentary plan view of the"right=hand end of Fig. -l-. Fig. -1v is a fragmentnry sectional view shouine a tiro-wire formof 7g plug construction. Iig. -5` is a tra-nsl i' verse section through Fig. alongthe line Fig. (i a longitudinal-section through n separuble u'ire Connector embody; ing my inrention. Fig. "7 is etre-ns; verse ,section through Fig. -6 along` .the line -T ln vthe en'ibodiiuent f Fig. -"-1.-, my .inff vention is shown es applied to a socket' haliing a substantially 'cylindrical easing-L30 grounded to the terminal-2 of an eletric circuit, the said casing being 'equilopegh.ntff its forward. end with a. pair of bayonet slots 4 3 dimnetrically opposite each othenlthessid slots receiving and interlocking with 'project-x35 tions 'l upon the base. of the incandescent lanip Mounted within the easing l and rigidly secured therein is an insulating'-b'fidy C of hard rubber or other suitable material," rariving a metal tube T disposed.axiallyfotqgo thil insulating body F and the (nisiingf '[hrendedly mounted upon one end ofthe `C vlinder i' is :i metal nap 8 having a oon-A trzaetcd bore slidinjrlj,V litt-ing the steinfo'f a plunger 9. which plunger projects forwardly of the i, irl cnp into Contact. with. onteljter" miami ot the lamp the other terminnlof the lamp filament being connected `t o" t,he exterior of the easing l Aof the lamp andthrough the latter to the easing 1 ofthe 10o socket. The plunger 9'has at its innereil :in enlarged head 12 bearing continuously against a compression spring V13, the other end of which spring bears. against the 'shankl of a substantially Y-s'naped. flat v nietal 105 punching ll. The cylinder 7 is secured to the insulated body G b v n pin 1 5 extending transversely through the boro near one endl thereof, the. seid pin passing also through an elongated slot lo in the said shankof the 11o Y-shaped member. i

At. its rear end the casing l is equipped with di'ametrically opposite slot formations, eech thereofcomprislng double-sided bayonet formations consisting of a pair of socket'portions 18 disposed :it points widely separated circumferentially of the casing-and connected by a slot portion 19 extending circumerentially of the casing, lwhich circumferen tial portion 19 is connected bythe main portion 17 of the slotformation with the end of the casing. Eachigof the socket portions 18 of the said slotsi's' ad'a ted interchangeably to seat one 'of the latere projections 2O upon a plug21 so as to couple said plug to the 'casing inv either 'one o` vtwo rotationally separated Apositions. Mounted within the plug v2 Vwhich llatter 1s preferably of hard rubheforibeigis swim-terminal 22 secured by aclampig screw 23 to the end of a wire 245'whch 'wire forms the other terminus of the'said 'circuitf V'lhreadedly connected to the forwardiend of the s'aid terminal 2,2 is a substantially rectangular contact plate 2 5, pref; erablyA equipped along its longitudinal edges withbeveled portionsQG the said plate resting upon .the forwardl ace of the plug 21.

and extending transversely of the said' plug 'andvo'f the casin 1. .`\To prevent the sei contact plate 25 -r'om rotatmg with respect to the plug 21.l I preferably punch one onf more prongs 27 in the seid plate after itis mounted in position, the tips of the said prongs*Aentering` the body 'of theA plug 21 to anchor the sai plate against any tendency toward aV rotary movement about the termin nalf22. i

When the each other in the position4 of Figs; -1-- -2 and -3-, the arms'or fork portionjs 28 of the Y-shaped member. 14 bear against so thatv 'the circuit is interrupted between the said plate and the said bifurcated member 12. Upon .rotating the plug relatively to the casing to interlock the projections upon the same with the other pair of sock-l ets 18, the arms 28 of the bifurcated member will ride up the slopes 26 of the plate 25 andicontact with the ace thereof, as shown in'dotted lines in Figs. -2- and -3-, thereby closing the circuit. The shanlr of the bifurcated member 14 is preferably somewhat narrower in Width than the bore of the cylinder 7,A thereby permitting the said bifurcated member to tilt with respect to the axis 'of the socket soA as to insure a firm `contactbetween both of the arms 28 and the plate 25. It will .be obvious from the drawings that the single spring 13 will simultaneously press the vplunger '9 into forcible Contact With the lamp terminal 10, and also press the arms 28 of the bifureated member into forcible Contact with the plate 25 when the plug is in the circnit-closing position; also that the spring and the hip1ug`andsoclret are coupled to` .other terminal 'is @ifsvidiellyvv `enlarged and or forested member-'will `co-act with the plug; 21 when the .latter is in either of its said coupled positions to hold the projections upon the said plu securely interlocked with the respective soc et portions 18 of the slot formations. It will also be evident that the plug 21 and the Wire-terminal carried there` by may .be entirely disconnected from the socket by rotating the plug to the intere? mediate position in 'which the projections-29 aline with the main slot portions 17, thoreb permitting the plug to be Withdrawn longitudinally from the socket.` Should it be desirable to provide a similar switching arrangement With-out providing for such a dstaclung of the plug, this can be rovided by omitting the main'portion 17 op the slot, es shown by dotted lines in Fig;.3. l

`n the embodiment of Figsf-Y-- and -7-, my invention is shown as applied to a separable wire connector comprising a casing 1 havin a vplug 29 rigidly secured near one end t ereof, 'and a wire-terminal 39 mounted Withinv the said .plug and `se cured by a screw 31 to theendof'a ,Wire 32 forming one terminal ,otra circuit. The other end ofthe casingl is equipf'iedwith duplex bayonet slots similar to those ofFig. .the-,seid slots interlocking .in either of'ltyvo rotatonally separated positions with proyections. 2Q upon af movable lug 3. Mounted within-the saidplug 33 isV a ter'- mi'nal 34 secure-d by a screw 35 to the end of a wire' 36' forming the lother terminal of the Said circuit.' .The forward end of vthe said terminal Bis radially enlarged into a tube which is slottedA diametrically of the casing so 'as to prescritti@ arch-shaped ends at opposite sidesfoflitllesaid slot, asshown the forward 'surface of the' plug 21 radially" outward of the lateral edges of the plate 25,

in Fig: ;-7,-'. Likewisetherear end of the 105 bored out to liuse'f compressiox'11f spfrixifg37,'.v which spring; at itsntforw'ard .end against a solldfportion offthelsaidlterininel A and at its roerende einst 'the 'shank of allo supstnntially-"Tsliape contact members 38,

the shanko which mexnlierjA is equipped with a lonltu vinal erforation. Extending. through t 'esaid ongitudinal .perforation and through. the body-of the plug 29 and of 115 the terminal 30 nearggthe recr, end of the latter is a pin 39,Y which 'pin will engage the forward end off the seid elongated slot to prevent the' sprin v-37 .Tom eecting the T-l shaped member om "the 'said bore 'of the-12o terminal 36. When the plug 33 is interloclred with the casing 1 in one of its coupled positions, the transverse portion lO'of the T -shaped member will extend. along the airis of the saidslotinthe forward portion of the terminal 84, while the ends of the said portion L1Y0 will bear aga-inst the forward surface of the insulating plu 33, thereby openf ing the circuit between t e said portion 40 end the said arched port-ions d1 o the ter- 130 enema minalll-(pen rotating the plug to the other .oftssaid coupledpositions, the Said transmise-portion of the T-,shaped member will'rid'e' up the beveled ed s of the archedjtpertiens 4:1- and-eontact with the latter, beklag forcibly pressed'thereagain'st by the spring-37.'

itt-Will'be obvious that when the plug 33 is in either of itsnormal positions the spring 37- and the' T-shape'd member will coact with the plug 33nd theprojections'ZO upon the latter and'. the bayonet 'catoh 'foi'mations upon the casing 1 to maintain theiplug vsecurely interlockedwith the-casing.

It will also be obvious that 'the elements comprising my' structure may bev varied in man-y `ways 'without' departing 'from` the spirit .of-my invention as shownA in the appended`clamis,` hence I do not -wish to be limited. to the p'ai'tioularfdetails of construction v'herein disclosed. For example, instead of 4grou ficlin'g'one terminal of the circuit directly tothe casin of the socket as shown in dotted lines/in 1,' both wires may beeeeiiredto terminals carried by the rotatable plug7 its shown in Fig. 4; In this case, one of thefsa'id wire terminals may be grounded by a` screw 2O .to a -metal shell housingthe vfoiufaid end of the plug `and slidingly Contacting Awith the casing of the socket7 While the other terminal 22 may be connected to-the contact plate 25 byja screw -portion as' shown in. Figs. land 5.

Iv claim asmy invention: i

1. In a -`socketor connector, the combination witha casing, of 'a pair of circuit ter-A minals mounted therein and insulated therefrom, the mounting thereof permitting reiative rotary movement of the said terminals about the axis Yof 'thecasingg the said terminals'equipped at their adjacent ends with normally contacting tips,one of said tips being bifurcated, the said bifurcated tip strnfldling- .find being'out-of Contact with the other tipiwhen the said terminals have been partially rotated about the axis of the casing.

2. In a socket or connector, the combina! tion with a casing, of apeir of circuit ter.

iiii'nu'ls mounted therein and insulated therefrom, the mounting thereof permitting relative rotary ii'iovcment of the said terminals about the axis of tlie'cising; the .sa-id terminals equipped at their adjacent ends with normally ogiv'titacting tips, one of said tips being bifurcated, the Y said liifureatcd tip straddliiig und being out of Contact with the other tip when the said terminals have been partially rotated about the axis of the casing, and spring means associated with the czising'und one. ol' the said terminals for maintaining the said terminals in either their said contacting or their said noncomtacting relation.

3. lu :i socket plug combination, a

l substantially cylindrical casing plus, a

to the casing to move theplug 51tr equipped with means for coupling the plug `with 'an elongated Contact portiondeposed upon the forward face-of'tlieplug trimsY lrei-self,l of thecasinggand al secoiidei-ieu-it terminal mounted within 1und1-insulated from the casing forwardly'of the "said-plug i andequipped at its rear and Withal'oi portion stra (idling the -sa-id elongatedz loon? tact portion of theothercireu-it' when the plucr is coupledo'the one of vits said positions, the said-fdiizposition of the forked and elongated literrniniil portions causing the tips vof thevsaidorked portions to be brought, into contat .with the said elongated portion' of theotliei'icirciit terminal when the plug is in its said coupled positions. l l.

4. ln a socket and plug combina lion,4 a plug1l a substantially cylindrical equipped wi th means for coupling thereto `in either of twol rotation rated positions. the said coupling permitting the plug tobe-r'otatedf to thev casing to move'tliexplugef o." the otlier of its said 'positionsf;

mimi Carried by uie'jepiugi--ma ed with an" elongated Contact portion upon the forward faoeo'f .the-Q u tramsversely of. the casinggaa 'secondcigcilit teimiiial mounted within .audinsulatedf iigm' the casing forwardly of the seoondplugand equipped at Vits lrear end wi'ithiaiforp d tion straddling the said. -elongl' Contact portion of the other-circui'tterrnin the plug is coupled to the; easingA its said positions, the said V( lispositio of the forked and elongated" tein'n'al' causing the tips of the said vr'orlr portions Y to oe brought intocon'tact with e said elongated poi-tion of the ,otherAv ircuitggterminal when the plug is in 5th v eigof its said coupled positions; and aV-springassociated with one of the said.v terminals and pressing the said terminals.iiitojorcible *enthe, other of Jugement with each other ivli'entlile .plug is coupled to ed'position. A

ln ii socket and plug eouili` j ation, a plug, u substantially cylindrical casing equipped at one end u 'vith means f oi/ oupling the plug thereto in either of tworotahtion'ally sepa rated positions, the siiid coupling` means the casing :in its last-ii permitting the plugto .be rotatedurelatiifely to the casing to more the plug-frein one to the other of its said 'positionsg Ya circuit terininal carried hy the plug and equipped with an elongated Contact portion disposed upon the forward face of the plug trzins'versel)1 of the easing; und a second circuit terminal mounted With-in and insulated .from the ces` ing forwardly of the saidplug and equipped otitis-.rear end witha `forked portion streddlingbthe said elongated contact portion of the other circuit terminal 'when the plug is coupled to thefasing in oneof its sa'd po-V sitions",A thefsaidedis osition" of the orked mdelongated termi l'portinsfcsusing the tips o thesaid forkeportions to be brought into contact withftlieseid elongated portion of the other circuit terminati when the plug isinA the other of its said coupled positions; the" said casing equipped l at its other end4 with means for'couplmga lamp or wire.- terminal plug thereto, the forward end of theseid second terminal contacting with a contact terminal? ofthe said. lamp or wireterminel plug when the latini; is coupled to the casing` 'i 16. In al socketvv andplug combination, a plug, o,l substsntiully cylindrical casing equipped "et oneend vwith .1 means for coupling the plug thereto'ix'ieither-,o 4two rotetionally separated :positions the said couping ineens permitting thelplug to hey roted relatively tothe' casingto move the .Sition e-cifcuittermiuslcerried by the plug und, equipped with' an elongated conta-ct portiondisposdupon the forward face of the 'plugtran'sversely of the casing; e second ""oircuit-teriniiinl mounted within and insulated from'the casing forwardly offthe seid plug and; equipped at its'rea'r end" with a forked portion straddlin the said elongated l Contact portionof the ot er circuit terminal ivhen 'the I'plug is coupled 'to the casing in l one :oitsV said positions, the seid disposition ofthe forked and elongatedterminal por-v rninal "equipped at its-forward endwith oA relatively movable po tion contacting with nl terminal of the said emp' or wire-terminal plug when the latter is coupled to the ces- 1ng;'and 'a spring cerriedby the seidsecond terminal and interposed between the said forkedA and #relatively lmovable portions thereof and simultaneously pressing the said portions into engagement respectively with the said 'elongated Contact portionv of the l first-named w1re-terminal and th vseid terl'auf minal of the lamp or Wire-terminal plug.

v7. In a. socket and plug combination, a

plug, a substantially cylindrical cnsing/ equipped'with means for coupling the plug theeto incitlier ltivomitionsily sepe-l the casing to :nove the plug from one to the other of its said positions; e circuit terminal Vcarried hthe plug and equipped et its for1 werd en with a Contact portion disposed upo1i-tlie`forwerd surface of the plug sul)`- stnntisll'y transversely ofthe casing; und a secondcircui't terminal mounted within. and insulated from the casing` forwardly of the said plug; one of the sald terminals being elongated transversely of the casing, the adjacent portion of the-,other thereof being forked and strsiddling the' seid elongated portion of the lrstouuned circuit terminal when the plu is coupled to the casing lin one of its sai positions; the seid Asha ing and disposition of the ladjacent ends o the seid terminals causing the tips of the seid forked portion to be brought into Contact with un elongated portion ofthe other termina-l when'tne plug is in the other of its said coupled positions.

8. In a. socket and plug combination, u Y

plug, a substantially cylindrical casing equipped with means for coupling the plug thereto in either of tiro rotations-ily sepa rated positions, the Said coupling Ineens permitting the plug to be rota-*ted relatively to the casing to mo'ye the plug from one to the other of its said positions, e circuit terminal carried by the plug and equipped at its forward end'with a Contact portion .disposed uponl the forward surface of the plug sub portion of the lirst-naniedvcircuit terminal when the plug is coupled to the casing in one Vof its saidfpositions; the said sha, ing

' and disposition of-theodiacentendf-o .the

said terminlsceusin'g thc tips ofthe said forked portion tofbc brought into contact with an elongated portion ofthe other terminal when the lug is vin theotlieiso-iits said coupledpositions; vund e spring "assosv elated with 'one-fof the said terminals and pressing the adjacent'endsthereof into for,-

cible ei'igng'ement withl eachother when' the plug is infits lest-nemed coupled' position.

ln testimonylwhereo I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing v wit-V nesses. i

, GEORGE C. KNAUFF.

W itnesses llt llii 

